Pouring spout cartons



June 25, 1963 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,095,135

POURING SPOUT CARTONS Filed Oct. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H 5 INVENTOR Pusan; J. f/FA/A/ESSE') ATTORNEY June 25, 1963 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,095,135

POURING SPOUT CARTONS Filed Oct. 4, 1962 Sheets-Sheet 2 I '1 w M 1 k i qfp 45 W l 27 5Z 35 50 43 30 INVENTOR 5 1/66 544 J HEM/V5685) ATTORNEY iinitedi This invention relates to an improvement for pouring spout cartons and deals particularly with a carton having a spout which may be opened up for dispensing the contents, and which may be reclosed to provide a relatively tight closure.

Pouring spouts have been made on regular paste end cartons by employing one of the closing flaps secured to a side wall and portions of the closing flaps are connected to the face panels. A spout of generally U-shaped cross section is formed by portions of these closing flaps, and the portion of the closing flap secured to the face panels are diagonally folded or creased so that the end closure can be made. One of the diificulties with such a structure lies in the provision of a. tight closure, and another lies in the difficulty normally experienced in reclosing the spout. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton having a pouring spout of the general type described which provides a tight closure when originally sealed and which may be readily reclosed between uses.

In order to prevent the build up of layers of paperboard in the diagonally creased portions of the spout, the portions of the flaps which are cut from the flaps connected to the face panels are usually cut away so that these diagonally folded portions extend no longer than onehalf the width of the closing flap secured to the end wall. However, when sealing pressure is applied to hold the top closure closed, these diagonally folded portions are free to fold down into the interior of the carton, and do not form a firm support, often resulting in an improper seal in the top closure. In the present invention, one of the diagonally folded portions includes a short projecting portion which is sandwiched between the gusset panels of the other diagonally folded portion. As a result, inward pressure is strongly resisted and an effective seal can be produced.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pouring spout closure in which one of the closing flaps connected to a face panel is provided with a projecting lip or flange which may be secured in overlying relation to the portions of the closing flaps forming the pouring spout. When this flange or lip is sealed, a tight closure is produced. The projecting lip or flange is connected to the closing flap to which it is attached along a weakened line of separation so that this lip may be removed or torn away when the carton is opened.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the formation of a projecting tongue which remains attached to a closing flap secured to a face panel and overlying the portion of the pouring spout which is hinged to the carton side wall. This tongue is of just sufficient length to permit the pouring spout to be opened or reclosed by flexing this tongue, permitting the pouring spout to be effectively reclosed.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims:

In the drawings forming a part of the specification;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pouring spout corner of the carton showing the pouring spout in sealed position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing sates Fatent Qt 3,@5,l35 Fatented June 25, 1953 ice the arrangement after the carton has been opened and reclosed.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the pouring spent in opened position for pouring.

FIGURE 4- is a perspective view of the carton during the reclosing operation, the carton being partially reclosed.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the top of the carton, the position of the section 'being indicated by the line -55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the carton top in partially closed position.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the pouring spout carton is formed.

With reference first to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, the pouring spout A carton includes a face panel 10, a side wall panel 11, a face panel 12, and a side wall panel 13, the panels being hingedly connected along fold lines 14, 1'5, and 16. A glue flap 17 is hingedly connected to the face panel 11} along a fold line 19.

Conventional bottom closing flaps 20', 21, 22 and 23 are foldably connected to the lower edges of the panels 10, 11, 12, and 13 along a fold line 24. Closing flaps 25, 26, 27, and 29 are foldably connected along the upper edges of the panels 10, '11, 12, and 13 along a fold line 343. The glue flap 17 also preferably includes a short extension 31 which is hinged to the upper edge of the glue flap along an extension of the fold line 30. Obviously, the glue flap 17 and extension 31 are designed to be adhered to a surface of the side wall 13 and its closing flap 29 in order to provide an effective closure, tear or web corners are formed between the side wall closing flap 29 and the face panels 10 and 12. This is accomplished by terminating the slit 32 between the closing flaps 27 and 29 a short distance short of the fold line 39, and employing a cut score line 32 from the inner end of the slit 32 to the fold line 30. The slit 3!- between the glue flap extension 31 and the closing flap is also terminated a similar distance from the fold line 30, and a cut score line 35 connects the end of the slit 34 to the fold line. As is indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, when the closing flap 29 is folded inwardly in carton closing position, and the flaps 25 and 27 are folded outwardly, triangular webs 36 are torn from the inner surfaces of the flaps 25 and 27 as shown in FIGURE 6.

The side wall closing flap 26 is connected to end portions 37 and 39 of the face panel closing flaps 25 and 27. The end portion 37 of the closing flap 25 is separated from the main portion thereof by a cut line 40 which extends from the outer edge of the closing flap to a point spaced from the fold line 36, the out line being at right angles to the fold line 3%. A diagonal cut crease line 41 extends from the end of the cut lie 40 to the fold line 30, the cut score line 41 angling toward the side wall panel 11. The out line 40 is spaced from the fold line 14- a distance substantially equal to the length of the closing flaps so that the area from which the end portion 37 is formed is substantially square. A perforated line 42 extends most of the way across the closing flap 27, terminating in spaced relation to the fold line 60. A diagonal cut score line 43 extends from the end of the perforated line 42 to the fold line 39, the cut score line angling toward the side wall panel 11. The perforated line 42 is interrupted by a U-shaped cut line 44 which provides a projecting tongue 45 on the end of the main portion of the closing flap 27. A flange or ear 46 is connected to the main portion 47 of the closing flap 27, the end of the ear as being defined by a out line 49 which extends for some distance generally parallel to the perforated line 42 and then curves toward the inner end of the perforated line .2 as indicated at 50 to terminate at the juncture between the perforated line 42 and the cut score line 43.

The end portion of the closing flap 27 which is closest to the closing flap 26 is divided into two portions by a diagonal fold line 51 which emanates from the juncture between the fold lines '15 and 30. The portion 52 of the end section 39 which is connected to the closing flap 26 along the fold line of a width substantially equal to one-half the width of the side wall 11 while the section 53 of the 'end portion 39 which is foldably connected to the face panel =12 along the fold line 30 is of a length from the fold line 30 substantially equal to one-half the width of the side wall =11. Accordingly, the sections 52 and 53 may fold along the fold line 51 into overlying relation when the carton is closed.

The end section 37 is also divided by a diagonal fold line 54 into a portion 55 connected along the fold line 14 to the closing flap 26, and a portion 56 which is foldably connected along the fold line 39 to the face panel l0. The portion 56 is of a length substantially one-half the length of the closing flaps (or one-half the width, of the side wall 11). The upper portion 55 extends beyond the end of the fold line 54 to provide a projecting tongue 57 which is an important part of the present invention, and which serves a purpose which will be later described.

After the carton A has been glued at the manufacturers joint into tubular form, the bottom closing flaps are closed in the conventional manner, and the cartons are filled. Pressure is applied against the end portions 37 and39 of the face panel closing flaps and 27 to fold these portions inwardly along the diagonal fold lines "34 and 51'as the side wall closing flap 26 is folded down. The side wall closing flap 29' is likewise folded downwardly toward the position shown in FIGURE 6, while the main portions of the closing flaps 25 and 27 are folded outwardly as also shown in this figure. Adhesive is applied to the proper flap surfaces, and the major portions of the flaps 25 and 27 r are folded inwardly into superposed relation, the flap 27 being uppermost. The flange 46 is folded to overlie the end portion of the flap 26 and is adhered thereto. 7

During the downward folding of the side wall closing flap 26, the projecting tongue 57 on the closing flap section 55 is sandwiched between the diagonally folded sections 52 and 53 of the end. portion 39 of the closing flap 27. As a result of this arrangement, the opposite sides of the diagonally folded portionsof the pouring spout are interleaved together to resist downward pressure on the closing flap 26. FIGURE 4 clearly shows the manner in which the projection 57 folds between the gusset sections 52 and 53. When closed, the pouring spout corner of the carton appears as indicated in FIG- URE I.

Preferably, in gluing the flange or ear 45 to the flap 26, the end of this flange or ear is left unattached so that the flange may be grasped by the fingers or may be raised by the insertion of a knife blade between this flange and the flap 26. As a result, this flange may be lifted and torn off, the pouring spout corner of the carton then appearing as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. As will be noted, the angular portions 41 and 43 form triangular areas overlying the corners of the flap 26. With the carton in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the pouring spout may be opened up into' the form illustrated in FIGURE 3 by pulling upwardly on the side edges of the flap 26 along the fold lines 14 and 15 connecting the flap 26 to the end portions 37 and 39. of the closing flaps 25 and 27. During this operation, the short tongue is temporarily flexed to permit this operation. After the pouring spout has been used to dispense the carton contents, the carton is refolded, FIGURE 4 of the drawings showing the carton in partially reclosed position. The closing operation is continued until the end of the flap 26 moves past the tongue 45, and the flap is held closed by the tongue. Upon reclosing, the pouring spout structure overlies the triangular areas defined by the cut score lines 41 and 4'2, and this permits the closing flap 26 to flex downwardly beneath the tongue 45.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my impro 'e'ment in pouring spout carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A poor spout carton including,

a rectangular tubular structure including parallel face panels and parallel side panels, flaps hinged to said panels at an end thereof,

the flap secured to one side panel being hingedly connected to end portions of the flaps on the face panels, the end portions of the flaps on the face panels being confined within a generally square area and separated from the remainder of the flaps on the face panels,

said end portions including diagonal fold lines dividing the end portions into two gusset flaps three of which terminate short of a central plane parallel to, and midway between, said face panels,

the fourth gusset flap including a projection extending across said plane and sandwiched between the gusset flaps on the other side of the car-ton.

2. A pour spout carton including,

a rectangular tubular structure including parallel face panels and parallel side panels,

flaps hingedly connected to an end of said panels,

the flaps hingedly connected to said face panels being divided by cut lines extending from the end thereof to the line of hinge connecting these flaps to the face panels to form main flap portions and end flap portions,

the main flap portions and one side panel flap being secured in face contact,

the said end flap portions being hingedly connected 7 to the other side panel flap along extensions of the lines of fold connecting said other side panel to said face panels,

the end flap portions being divided into pairs of gusset flaps by diagonal lines of fold extending thereacross from the junctures of the fold lines connecting the connecting said other side panel to said face panels,

the gusset flaps of one end flap portion being confined 3. The structure of claim 2 and including an extension 7 on the outermost of said main flap portions overlying, and secured to, said flap on said other side wall. 4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said extension is connected to said outermost main flap portion along a weakened line of separation extending generally along the end of said flap on said other side wall.

5. The structure of claim 2 and including an car on the outermost of said main flap portions overlying the end extremity of the flap on said other side wall.

'6. The structure of claim 5 and in which the fourth gusset flap is hingedto the upper edge of one edge of the flap hinged to said other side wall.

References (fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,488 Powell Mar. 4, 1941 flaps to their respective panels and the fold lines 

2. A POUR SPOUT CARTON INCLUDING, A RECTANGULAR TUBULAR STRUCTURE INCLUDING PARALLEL FACE PANELS AND PARALLEL SIDE PANELS, FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO AN END OF SAID PANELS, THE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FACE PANELS BEING DIVIDED BY CUT LINES EXTENDING FROM THE END THEREOF TO THE LINE OF HINGE CONNECTING THESE FLAPS TO THE FACE PANELS TO FORM MAIN FLAP PORTIONS AND END FLAP PORTIONS, THE MAIN FLAP PORTIONS AND ONE SIDE PANEL FLAP BEING SECURED IN FACE CONTACT, THE SAID END FLAP PORTIONS BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER SIDE PANEL FLAP ALONG EXTENSIONS OF THE LINES OF FOLD CONNECTING SAID OTHER SIDE PANEL TO SAID FACE PANELS, THE END FLAP PORTIONS BEING DIVIDED INTO PAIRS OF GUSSET FLAPS BY DIAGONAL LINES OF FOLD EXTENDING THEREACROSS FROM THE JUNCTURES OF THE FOLD LINES CONNECTING THE FLAPS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PANELS AND THE FOLD LINES CONNECTING SAID OTHER SIDE PANEL TO SAID FACE PANELS, THE GUSSET FLAPS OF ONE END FLAP PORTION BEING CONFINED WITHIN AN AREA TO ONE SIDE OF A PLANE MIDWAY BETWEEN, AND PARALLEL TO, SAID FACE PANELS, AND ONE OF THE GUSSET FLAPS OF THE OTHER END FLAP PORTION INCLUDING A PROJECTION SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE GUSSET FLAPS OF SAID ONE END FLAP PORTION. 